Gu Yuan watched Zhou Chiyu deliberately slow his steps, clenching his little fists in a huff but refusing to make up. He couldn’t help pondering what their married life would be like.
He’d searched a lot on the Tablet Computer today. The country prohibited two boys from marrying. If they wanted to marry, he might have to make a marriage certificate himself.
But when?
If before his surgery, it would be irresponsible.
Because he couldn’t give Zhou Chiyu companionship.
Books said married couples had to stick together every day, like his mom and dad.
By then, Zhou Chiyu could play, and he’d earn money.
“Little Yi, Little Fish, this Pirate Ship is so much fun!”
In the blink of an eye, they’d played two rides, running until they were drenched in sweat. As the most energetic and rowdy kid, Zhou Chiyu had ridden the Pirate Ship three times alone.
“Let’s go on the Roller Coaster.” Langlang waved his chocolate rice cake excitedly. “Everyone, hurry up.”
“Mm, mm.”
Zhou Chiyu munched on the sweet rice cake when he suddenly noticed Gu Yuan on the bench. He’d sat under the rides the whole time, watching everyone without joining a single one.
He rubbed his sticky lips, wanting to pull Gu Yuan along but too shy because of their fight.
But Gu Yuan’s health was poor; he really couldn’t do many rides.
His brother was so pitiful. This illness was like a devil.
“Oh man, I’m so tired.”
Zhou Chiyu drooped his shoulders, waddling like a listless little penguin, and plopped down beside Gu Yuan as if by accident.
However—
He deliberately left a Basketball’s distance between them to show his stance. Before, he’d always stuck right to Gu Yuan.
“Little Fish, aren’t you going to play?”
Gu Yuan propped his cheek, his glass-like clear eyes almost entirely filled with Zhou Chiyu. “You’ve got sweat all over your forehead.”
Though the little island’s high could reach 30 degrees, the evening breeze was chilly. Gu Yuan worried Zhou Chiyu would catch a cold.
Zhou Chiyu stayed silent, just pouting arrogantly and rubbing the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.
“Your hair’s sweaty too.”
Gu Yuan leaned over proactively, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket to gently wipe Zhou Chiyu’s hair. The tuxedo was nice but too thick, so he undid three shirt buttons for him.
His wrists were so slender, like a pale gleam in the night—deformable at a mere touch.
Zhou Chiyu tilted his head up and glimpsed the scar on Gu Yuan’s hand.
That was from kindergarten, when Gu Yuan had protected his head and hit the Stove.
He realized Gu Yuan had gotten even thinner.
At dinner, Gu Yuan had only eaten a couple of simple bites.
Zhou Chiyu lowered his eyes and sneaked peeks at Gu Yuan.
Fine, he didn’t mind Gu Yuan exposing his shortcomings.
As long as Gu Yuan took the initiative to sleep with him tonight, he could let bygones be bygones.
“All done.” Gu Yuan neatly folded the handkerchief and reminded him, “Run slower. The lights here are dim; it’s easy to trip.”
“Oh.” Zhou Chiyu stared into Gu Yuan’s calm, serious eyes and suddenly understood why he’d said he didn’t seem like an adult.
At some point, Gu Yuan had become like a real adult.
Compared to Gu Yuan, he really was just a kid.
“Little Fish, come on.” Zhou Junyi and Langlang ran over to invite him. “The Bumper Cars next door are super cool.”
Zhou Chiyu hesitated as he stood, glancing sideways at Gu Yuan. His expression was calm, without a hint of displeasure, but it was like he had mind-reading powers and could see Gu Yuan’s soul.
Gu Yuan’s soul was crying.
“I’m super tired.” Zhou Chiyu waved his little hand. “You guys go ahead.”
Zhou Junyi looked disappointed, but with Langlang, he wasn’t lonely.
Night deepened.
Gu Yuan and Zhou Chiyu sat side by side on the chairs, tilting their heads up to gaze at the stars together.
Gu Yuan didn’t ask why Zhou Chiyu wasn’t playing. Perhaps he knew the answer, so he didn’t care how Zhou Chiyu responded.
Back at the hotel that night, Zhou Chiyu clutched his pajamas in a dilemma. They stayed in the Presidential Suite, with the Butler Uncle and bodyguards in the outermost room. The inner two rooms were for them. If they slept in separate beds, he’d already let it slip earlier, so they definitely couldn’t sleep together tonight.
The little island’s weather changed on a dime.
It had been calm in the evening, but now gales howled outside, the sea wind like a man-eating demon trying to devour the whole hotel.
Zhou Chiyu heard a noise from next door.
Could it be—
He tiptoed stealthily to peek and saw Gu Yuan had really gone into the next room.
“Bad brother.”
Zhou Chiyu’s chubby face scrunched like a bun. He bit his lip, sitting scared on the sofa. The weather was bad today, and they’d argued and separated beds. What if a demon snatched him away in the middle of the night? Gu Yuan would have no little brother left.
Then Gu Yuan could regret it!
He indignantly stripped off his tuxedo, left in just white underwear.
The bathtub was already filled by the Butler Uncle. He dawdled to the door, glanced at the empty room, and remembered that movie Bathroom Wet Soul. The protagonist had been soaking in the tub just like him, and suddenly the water turned to blood.
Zhou Chiyu’s plump little butt trembled. He scurried to the shower, deciding not to soak.
In three minutes, he sloppily foamed up and rinsed off in a rush, terrified that staying a second longer would let the bathroom ghost grab him and turn him into a starch sausage.
When he flung open the bathroom door in panic, he found Gu Yuan already sitting on his sofa, reading a book.
Water droplets slid from his hair down his forehead. He rubbed his blurry eyes, and his lips curved up unconsciously.
“Brother.”
He ran barefoot to Gu Yuan, leaving a trail of wet footprints.
Gu Yuan looked up at the little drenched figure before him and fetched a bath towel to drape over Zhou Chiyu.
“Little Fish, why didn’t you dry off properly?”
Gu Yuan covered Zhou Chiyu’s little head with the towel and gently wiped. “Are you too tired?”
He noticed there was still foam on Zhou Chiyu’s little belly.
Zhou Chiyu shook his head, hands on his slippery waist. “Brother, are you going to stay with me?”
Gu Yuan hummed, hesitating whether to take Zhou Chiyu for another bath. Mom said bath foam had to be rinsed completely.
“You’re not mad at me?”
He felt he’d been too much today, saying all those mean things. If he were Gu Yuan, he’d definitely be hurt.
“Are you scared too? So you want to sleep together?”
Zhou Chiyu bared his little white teeth, sure he’d guessed right.
“I’m not mad at you, and it’s not because I’m scared.”
Gu Yuan stopped his motions, stroked Zhou Chiyu’s damp curls, leaned in to hug him, and rested his chin atop.
Why sleep together?
Because—
Every day was a countdown.
Author’s Note:
Thanks for everyone’s nutrient solutions! So many, I’m so happy!!
